Weather And Climate Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the definition of weather?
The specific atmospheric conditions at a particular point in time.
What is an aneometer?
It measures wind speed.
What is a barometer?
Air pressure in millibars.
What is all rain caused by?
Rising air which is the same as low pressure.
What are the three ways air is forced to rise?
Heat, when two different air masses meet, moveable object.
How does relief rainfall work?
Air is forced to rise by hills, air cools down as it rises and clouds form and rain occurs. As rain falls it warms evaporating moisture back into vapour.
What is conventional rainfall?
Air rises because the sun is heating the ground which in turn heats the air. Air cools down, water vapour condenses and forms powerful storm clouds intense rainfall and sometimes electric storms.
What is frontal rainfall?
Two air masses meet and warmer air mass rises over the colder one. Air cools be water vapour condenses forming cloud and rain.
What is climate?
The average, long term conditions in a region.
What is latitude?
How far North or South a place is from the equator.
How does latitude affect temperature?
In the North, the sun’s energy travels through more atmosphere meaning large areas of land remain cold- less energy is available.
In the South, Suns energy travels through less atmosphere so it has more heat which means small areas of land heat up easier.
What is the polar maritime air mass?
It comes from the direction NW. Brings with it moisture and cold air.
What is the returning polar maritime air mass?
It comes from the West. It brings moist and cold conditions.
What is the tropical maritime air mass?
Direction is from SW. Brings wet and warm weather.
What is the tropical continental air mass?
Comes from SE. Brings with it warm and dry weather.
What is the polar continental air mass?
Direction is from the East. Effect is in summer it is hot and dry, winter it is cold and dry.
What is the Arctic maritime Air mass?
Direction is from north. Brings cold and moist conditions.
What is the effect on temperature from altitude?
Temperature drops at higher altitude, about 1 degree drop per 100m, it is colder because of less dense air.
What are the characteristics of a depression?
Clouds, fronts (warm/cold), low air pressure, rising air, anti-clockwise and has strong winds.
What are the characteristics of an anticyclone?
No clouds, no fronts, no rain, high pressure, clockwise, light winds.
Name a case study that illustrates a depression.
Flooding in Holland (1995)
What were the causes of the flooding in Holland (1995)?
Rained 3 1/2 more times than Jan average, mild temps caused early snowmelt in Alps, the river had been straightened and narrowed which speeds up the flow.
What does an anemometer measure?
Wind speed in knots or mph.
What does a weather satellite measure?
Cloud cover in oktas (eighths of cloud cover)
